Pivotally mounted diffuser globe for light fixture



PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DIFFUSER GLOBE FOR LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Aug. 14, 1961 'IIIIIII INVENTOR. PRES TON A. JONES g 4 N WM 32 24 AT RNEYS United States Patent 3,142,445 PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DIFFUSER GLOBE FOR LIGHT FIXTURE Preston A. Jones, San Rafael, Calif. (2229 4th St., Berkeley, Calif), assignor of one-half to Wallace D. Runswiclr, Berkeley, Calif.

Filed Aug. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 131,228 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-73) This invention relates to light fixtures in general and is particularly directed to a wall mounted light fixture which also has an electric outlet recetacle and a light diffusing globe which is pivotal to an open position to facilitate access to the interior of the fixture without removal of the globe.

Various globe enclosed light fixtures are known which are also provided with an electrical outlet receptacle. Quite often fixtures of this type are wall mounted in bathrooms to facilitate lighting thereof as well as to provide an outlet into which electric shavers and other applicances may be conveniently plugged. conventionally the diffuser globe of these fixtures are secured thereto by means of a threaded stud extending from the wall mounting plate through the globe for receiving a cap nut or by equivalent demountable attachment means. In order to replace light bulbs or accomplish other operations in the fixture interior, it has hence been necessary to completely detach the globe in order to gain access. This is of course a rather cumbersome manipulation, particularly where the fixture is disposed on the wall at substantial heights from the floor.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved light fixture wherein the diffuser globe is pivotable from its normal position substantially completely overlying the base and lamp sockets to an open position to thereby provide access to the fixture interior and the sockets without requirement of removal of the globe from the fixture.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fixture of the class described which includes an electric outlet receptacle accessible for use in the closed position of the globe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fixture of the class described wherein the globe may be readily replaced in the event of damage thereto.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the fixture of the present invention with portions broken away.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view with portions of the fixture broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing, there will be seen to be provided a light fixture which generally comprises a mounting base 11 with socket means 12 secured to its face for the mounting of one or more light bulbs 13. An electric outlet receptacle 14 may also be secured to the base to project therefrom and a diffuser globe 16 is disposed in enclosing relation to the face of the base. It is particularly important to note that the globe is removably secured to pivot means 17 attached to the base such that the globe may be pivoted from its closed full line position depicted in FIGURE 3 to the open phantom line position shown therein to facilitate access to the 3,142,445 Patented July 28, 1964 bulbs 13 and other interior elements of the fixture without removal of the globe.

Considering now the light fixture in greater detail as to its preferred structure, the base 11 is preferably provided as being of an elongated rectangular cupped configuration including a rectangular face portion 18 with marginal side walls 19 depending therefrom. Longitudinally centrally of the face portion there is attached a bracket 21 which includes an inclined portion 22 extending upwardly from one side edge of the face and transversely inward to the central region thereof. The bracket further includes a flat portion 23 integrally connected to inclined portion 22 and extending transversely therefrom beyond the opposite side edge of the base face to be terminated in an upwardly turned semicircular ear portion 24.

The socket means 12 is then secured to the inclined portion 22 of the bracket, and in the preferred embodiment the socket means is a double socket 26. This socket is secured to the bracket longitudinally of the base and has threaded bulb receiving receptacles at its opposite ends. The bulbs 13 thus project in opposite longitudinal directions from the socket 26. The inlet leads 27 to socket 26 are led through the bracket 21 and face portion 18 of the base to the interior region thereof circumscribed by the side walls 19.

The outlet receptacle 14 is mounted on the flat portion 23 of the bracket and extends through a conformed aperture in the ear portion 24. Inlet leads 28 to the receptacle extend through the bracket and base member face portion 18 in similar fashion as the light socket leads 27.

Considering now the diffuser globe 16 which encloses the fixture, it is to be noted that same preferably includes a substantially fiat portion 29 in spaced overlying relation to the base member. Marginal side walls 31 are smoothly curved downward from the flat portion 29 to terminate substantially flush with the base face 18. The side wall of the globe that is adjacent the outlet receptacle 14 has a central recessed section 32 extending upward from its edge with a notch 33 therein for engaging the receptacle. The section 32 is recessed sufiiciently that it is disposed behind ear portion 24 when the notch 33 engages the receptacle. The recessed section, moreover, is semicircular such that the surrounding portions of the globe defining same are engageable with the periphery of the ear portion of the bracket as best shown in FIGURES l and 3.

The pivot means 17 for attaching the globe to the base member preferably comprises an elongated channel 34 pivotally connected for movement about a longitudinal axis adjacent the opposite side edge of the base member from the receptacle 14. The channel is provided with transversely projecting hinge elements 36 at its opposite ends which are pivotally secured to hinge brackets 37 projecting transversely outward from the base member. The channel may hence be pivoted through a substantial arc without engaging the base member by virtue of the projecting nature of the hinge means. The opposite wall of the globe from the recessed section 32 is engaged between the legs of the channel and secured thereto as by means of threaded fasteners 38 extending through registering apertures in the globe and channel. Thus the globe may be pivotally carried into and out of engagement with the receptacle upon the hinged channel. Moreover, when the globe is broken or otherwise damaged it may be readily removed from the channel and replaced with another by virtue of the threaded fasteners 38 utilized to secure the globe to the channel, but due to the channel support for the globe, little weight is normally carried by the fasteners 38, and the globe life is accordingly materially increased.

To facilitate releasable locking of the globe in closed position with the notch 33 engaging the receptacle a pair of leaf springs 39 are secured to the base member on opposite sides of the receptacle. The leaf springs are positioned to resiliently engage the inner side of the recessed section 32 of the globe on opposite sides of the notch 33. Thus, upon pivotal movement of the globe from its open position depicted in phantom line in FIGURE 3 to closed position as depicted in full line, the notch 33 engages the receptacle 14 and the leaf springs 39 bear against the inner surface of the recessed section 32 of the globe to hold the globe in closed position. Of course upon grasping the globe and urging same towards open position, the leaf springs 39 resiliently give way to release the globe and permit opening pivoting thereof.

There is thus provided a light fixture having a difiuser globe movable pivotally between a releasably locked closed position and an open position which provides access to the interior of the fixture and the ready replacement of the bulbs 13, without complete detachment of the globe from the fixture.

What is claimed is:

1. A light fixture comprising a base member, socket means mounted upon said base member for receiving at least one light bulb, bracket means projecting from said base member having an upwardly turned ear, an electric outlet receptacle carried upon said bracket means and extending through said ear, a translucent diifuser globe having a portion overlying said base member with marginal side walls depending therefrom and encompassing said base member, said globe side walls having a recessed section extending behind said ear with a notch engaging said receptacle, and pivot means securing the opposite side wall of said globe from said recessed section to said base member.

2. A light fixture according to claim 1, further defined by a pair of leaf springs secured to said base member on opposite sides of said receptacle and resiliently engageable with said globe at the inner side of said recessed section.

3. A light fixture comprising a rectangular base, an elongated channel disposed adjacent and extending along a major portion of one longitudinal side edge of said base, hinge means projecting transversely from said base and pivotally connecting said channel thereto for movement about a longitudinal axis, light socket means mounted upon said base for receiving at least one light bulb, a diffuser globe having a portion overlying said base with marginal side walls depending therefrom in encompassing relation to said base, the side wall of said globe adjacent said channel being engaged therein, means detachably securing said side wall to said channel for movement therewith, bracket means projecting transversely from the opposite side of said base from said channel and having an upwardly turned ear, an electric outlet receptacle mounted upon said bracket means and extending through said ear, said globe having a recessed section substantially conformed to said ear and normally extending behind same with a notch therein engaging said receptacle, and a pair of leaf springs secured to said base on opposite sides of said receptacle and resiliently engaging the inner surface of the recessed section of said globe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,529,363 Markel Mar. 10, 1925 2,134,828 Kaplan Nov. 1, 1938 2,797,312 Fletcher June 25, 1957 2,826,684 Baker Mar. 11, 1958 2,840,691 Bobrick et a1. June 24, 1958 2,975,271 Dvorak Mar. 14, 1961 3,014,126 Endelson Dec. 19, 1961 

1. A LIGHT FIXTURE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, SOCKET MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID BASE MEMBER FOR RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE LIGHT BULB, BRACKET MEANS PROJECTING FROM SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING AN UPWARDLY TURNED EAR, AN ELECTRIC OUTLET RECEPTACLE CARRIED UPON SAID BRACKET MEANS AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID EAR, A TRANSLUCENT DIFFUSER GLOBE HAVING A PORTION OVERLYING SAID BASE MEMBER WITH MARGINAL SIDE WALLS DEPENDING THEREFROM AND ENCOMPASSING SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID GLOBE SIDE WALLS HAVING A RECESSED SECTION EXTENDING BEHIND SAID EAR WITH A NOTCH ENGAGING SAID RECEPTACLE, AND PIVOT MEANS SECURING THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALL OF SAID GLOBE FROM SAID RECESSED SECTION TO SAID BASE MEMBER. 